Based on a 1935 novel written by Shim Hun, "Evergreen Tree" premiered in 1962 at the San Francisco International Film Festival, and despite the mostly negative reviews it received from American film critics, it was quite a success in S. Korea, netting awards for Best Actor and Actress the first Daejong Film Award, and Supporting Actor at the 9th Asian Film Festival, Evergreen Tree, Choi Eun-hee, Do Kum-bong, Heo Jang-kang, Kang-Shin Sung-il, Shin Sang-ok, Shin Young-kyun, Yoon Il-bong